WO2016207269A1

WO2016207269A1 - Electrical energy storage module

Info

Publication number: WO2016207269A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/064510
Authority: WO
Inventors: Olivier Caumont
Original assignee: Blue Solutions
Priority date: 2015-06-24
Filing date: 2016-06-23
Publication date: 2016-12-29
Also published as: HK1252750B; ES2742424T3; EP3314682B1; FR3038144A1; EP3314682A1; US20180190964A1; HK1252750A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical energy storage module (1), comprising an enclosure (21) inside which is housed at least one electrical energy storage element (31), said enclosure (21) being closed by a cover (22) provided with two output terminals (41, 42) having positive and negative polarity respectively. Said module is remarkable in that at least one of the two output terminals (41, 42) comprises a flexible cable (410, 420) having an electrically conductive central core surrounded by an electrically insulating sleeve and provided at the free end thereof with an electrical connector (43, 44), and in that said flexible cable (410, 420) passes through the cover (22) in such a way as to present an electrical contact area (413, 423) on the inside face (222) of said cover, said electrical contact area (413, 423) being in electrical contact with said electrical energy storage element (31), and in that the output terminal (43, 41) comprises an electrical connector (44, 43).

Description

Electric energy storage module

GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD The invention lies in the general technical field of the manufacture of an electrical energy storage module, containing at least one electrical energy storage element.

The present invention more specifically relates to such a module provided with two polarity output terminals respectively positive and negative.

In the following description and claims, a "module" is either a unit energy storage element, or an assembly comprising a plurality of energy storage elements, arranged side by side and electrically connected, generally in series. In the second case, such a module can provide in a single block sets of energy storage elements supporting a higher voltage and providing a larger storage capacity than unitary elements.

In addition to containing the energy storage elements, the module generally comprises many functional elements ensuring for example the electrical insulation, the thermal conduction or the setting of said storage elements, so as to ensure proper operation of the module.

Furthermore, in the context of the present invention, the term "electric energy storage element" is intended to mean a capacitor (that is to say a passive system comprising two electrodes and an insulator) or a supercapacitor. (i.e., a system comprising at least two electrodes, an electrolyte and at least one separator), or a lithium battery type (ie a system comprising at least one anode, minus a cathode and a liquid or solid electrolyte between the anode and the cathode). STATE OF THE ART

Already known in the state of the art such a storage module. This module comprises a parallelepipedal outer envelope inside which are arranged the energy storage elements. These different elements are further connected successively two by two by a connection strip, for a generally series mounting, and the two energy storage elements located at the two ends of the series connection are each further connected by a suitably shaped terminal strip respectively to the positive output terminal and the negative output terminal of the module.

These output terminals allow the connection of the module to a device to supply energy.

In the known modules of the state of the art, the output terminals, respectively of positive and negative polarity, are fixed, rigid and distant from each other.

Consequently, when it is desired to short circuit the module, for example during its transport and before its installation on site, it is necessary to add between the two terminals a single cable, for example a wire. In the diagram of Figure 1 attached, we can see a module M whose two terminals B are interconnected by a cable C.

Similarly, when it is desired to mount several modules in series or in parallel, it is necessary to add a power cable, to make the electrical connection between two neighboring modules or with a converter for example. In the diagram of Figure 2 attached, we can see two modules M. The negative terminal of one is connected to the positive terminal of the other by a cable C.

By way of example, the document WO 201/095365 describes a connecting element made of electrically conductive material whose two ends are provided with cylindrical bushings, able to be respectively engaged around a terminal of a module, for a mounting in series or in parallel of two modules.

Whatever the solution of the state of the art chosen, it is necessary to use an additional connecting cable. This means that it must be in stock and manage this stock and that the cable has the right diameter, compared to the intensity of the current that we want to pass. In addition, this additional cable generates an additional cost.

In addition, the use of this additional connection cable C generates two additional contact resistances R in the power circuit of the overall system, between each end of this cable and one of the terminals B of a module. The location of these contact resistances is visible in FIGS. 1 and 2. This reduces the yields and increases the risk of hot spots. This is all the more true when the electrical energy storage elements housed in the module are supercapacitors, because the problem of contact resistances is essential to the desired yields.

Finally, the use of an additional connection cable also has the disadvantage of increasing the number of connection operations during production.

Documents US 4118097 and US 5094635 describe such modules whose outer wall is provided with two rigid fixed output terminals, each of which are screwed together by a cable provided at its free end with an electrical connector.

These modules have the aforementioned drawbacks.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. It is intended in particular to provide an electrical energy storage module, which contains at least one electrical energy storage element, and whose two output terminals, of respectively positive and negative polarity, can be put in short. circuit or connected to the terminals of other storage modules, without additional room.

The invention also aims to provide a storage module whose aforementioned connection operations are simplified and therefore less expensive.

To this end, the invention relates to an electrical energy storage module, comprising a housing inside which is housed at least one electrical energy storage element, this housing being closed by a cover provided with two terminals of polarity output respectively positive and negative.

According to the invention, at least one of the two output terminals comprises a flexible cable which has an electrically conductive central core, surrounded by an electrically insulating sleeve, and which is provided at its free end with an electrical connector, this flexible cable passes through the cover so as to have an electrical contact area on the inner face of said cover, this electrical contact area being in electrical contact with said electrical energy storage element, and the other output terminal comprises a electrical connector. Thanks to these characteristics of the invention, the flexible cable can be deformed and twisted so as to easily connect its electrical connector, either to the electrical connector of the other terminal of the same module, or to an electrical connector of another module of same structure, without any additional room.

In addition, the flexible cable is secured to the module, which avoids losing it and the contact resistances decrease since the inner end of the flexible cable is directly in electrical contact with the energy storage element.

Finally, the central electrically conductive core and the connector are advantageously dimensioned for the module on which they are mounted and are therefore adapted to the intensity of the short circuit current of said module. This avoids the risk of burns that could be encountered in the state of the art with a cable of too small diameter.

According to other advantageous and nonlimiting features of the invention, taken alone or in combination:

the two output terminals comprise a flexible cable which has an electrically conductive central core, surrounded by an electrically insulating sleeve, and which is provided at its free end with an electrical connector and the two flexible cables pass through the cover so as to present an electrical contact area on the inner face of said cover, this electrical contact area being in electrical contact with said electrical energy storage element; the flexible cable of one of the two output terminals or each flexible cable of the two output terminals is of sufficient length to allow electrical contact of its electrical connector with the electrical connector of the other output terminal; of the same module, which thus ensures the short circuit of said module;

the flexible cable of one of the two output terminals or each flexible cable of the two output terminals is of sufficient length to allow electrical contact of its electrical connector with an electrical connector of an output terminal of another module, which thus ensures the serial assembly of the two modules; one of its two electrical connectors is a male connector while the other is a female connector, the two connectors being configured to mate with each other; the male connector comprises a threaded plug on its outer surface and the female connector comprises an internally threaded cavity adapted to receive said threaded plug; the two electrical connectors are identical;

the connectors are assembled and held in electrical contact with each other by means of additional connecting means, such as a screw and a nut;

the two output terminals are provided with additional assembly means of the two electrical connectors, such as a floating nut; and

at least one of the two electrical connectors is equipped with a polarizer.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which will now be made, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent, by way of indication but not limitation, various possible embodiments.

On these drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams respectively showing the short-circuiting of an energy storage module and a series connection of two of these modules, according to the state of the art,

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the various constituent elements of an exemplary embodiment of a module according to the invention,

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams representing two embodiments of the module according to the invention,

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams representing the short-circuiting of the modules of FIGS. 4A and 4B,

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the series connection of two modules according to FIG. 4A, FIGS. 7 to 9 represent three possible alternative embodiments of the output terminals of the electrical energy storage module according to the invention, and

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the different constituent elements of an alternative embodiment of the module of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 3, we can see an embodiment of a power storage module 1 according to the invention. This module 1 comprises a housing 2 of shape, preferably parallelepiped, which consists of a housing 21, able to be closed by a cover 22.

A module core 3 comprising a plurality of energy storage elements 31, here six in number, is intended to be housed inside the housing 2.

The energy storage elements 31 are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described here in more detail. They are electrically connected, preferably in series, using connecting strips 32 made of an electrically and thermally conductive material, in particular metal.

At both ends of the series connection, a connection bar 33 of suitable shape connects the last energy storage element 31 to a connection plug 34.

The energy storage elements 31 are also generally connected to at least one electronic card 35.

When assembling the module 1, the module core 3 is inserted inside the housing 21 and the cover 22 is fixed on this housing 21 so that the connection plugs 34 are in electrical contact with the output terminals 41 and 42 of module 1.

The output terminals 41 and 42 protrude from the outer face 221 of the cover 22 and pass therethrough so as to have an electrical contact area (not visible in FIG. 3) on the inside face 222 of the cover 22, These electrical contact areas 413, respectively 423, of the output terminals 41, 42 are visible in FIG. 10. The two output terminals are of opposite electrical polarities, the positive terminal being referenced 41 and the negative terminal 42.

Other arrangements of the core module 3 and the housing 2 could be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

According to a first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4A, each output terminal 41, respectively 42, of the module 1 comprises a flexible cable 410, respectively 420, provided at its free end, that is to say its opposite end to that connected to the housing 2, an electrical connector 43, 44 respectively.

According to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, only one of the two output terminals, for example in the figure terminal 41, comprises a flexible cable 410 provided with an electrical connector 43. The other output terminal , here in the figure the terminal 42, comprises only an electrical connector 44 but no flexible cable.

As can be seen only in the sectional view of FIG. 7, each flexible cable 410, 420 comprises a central core 41 1, 421 made of an electrically conductive material, constituted for example by a metal wire, this core being surrounded by a sleeve 412, 422 of electrically insulating material, for example plastic.

The diameter of the electrically conductive central core 41 1,

421 will advantageously be adapted to the currents of current to be passed through.

The flexible cables 410, 420 may consist for example of electric cables or busbar type of connection son with sufficient flexibility to allow the easy positioning of an electrical connector facing another electrical connector. The term "flexible" means that the cable may be deformed, twisted or bent.

Advantageously, a passage seal of the flexible cable 41, 42 will be provided at the level of the energy storage casing 2, for example here at the cover 22, to prevent leakage of liquid or gas during the handling of the cables. flexible.

The embodiment variant shown in FIG. 10 differs from that shown in FIG. 3 in that the connection strips 33 do not include connection plugs 34.

The electrical contact is then made directly between the electrical contact zones 413, 423 and the portions of the connecting strips 33 facing each other, which makes it possible to eliminate an additional interface which is a generator of increase of the overall series resistance and thus reduce the overall series resistance of the energy storage module.

According to a first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the two electrical connectors 43, 44 are identical. This is for example a ring eyelet. These two connectors 43, 44 are assembled and held in electrical contact with each other, with the aid of an additional assembly means 5, for example a screw 51 and a nut 52, the screw 51 being capable of to be inserted inside the eyelets of the two eyelet lugs 43, 44.

According to another variant embodiment shown in FIG. 8, one of the two electrical connectors of the module, for example the connector 43, is a male connector, while the other connector 44 is a female connector, these two connectors being configured to pair with each other. Note that the "male" or "female" character is independent of the polarity of the output terminal. In the example shown, the male connector 43 has a projecting plug 430 and the female connector 44 comprises a cavity 440, able to receive said plug 430.

The assembly can be done by simple skewer or snap. It is possible to use fast connectors or slats, for example.

According to another variant embodiment, the outer surface of the plug 430 may be threaded and the inner surface of the cavity 440 may be threaded, at a thread corresponding to that of the threaded plug 430, so as to cooperate with that -this.

Advantageously, the electrical connectors are shaped to prevent accidental electrical contact to prevent damage to the module and avoid any safety problem for the user.

Also preferably, the connectors 43, 44 must comply with the safety standards in force, more particularly with regard to the protection levels IPXXB and / or IP2X, which define the degree of electrical protection and which require that the connector be conformed to prevent direct access to electrically conductive elements with the finger of an operator. By "finger" is meant here the finger of an operator during the handling and / or installation of the electrical connector, but also, according to the standards in force, a test finger or specimen articulated "standard". Thus, although this does not appear in the figures, the electrically conductive parts of the connectors can be advantageously protected by a sleeve of electrically insulating material, shaped to allow a deliberate but not accidental electrical connection.

According to another variant of embodiment, it will be noted that the electrical connectors 43, 44 especially when they are identical may advantageously be equipped with a polarizer 45 (FIG. 9), preferably of the mechanical type, which makes it possible to avoid errors of connections. Such a polarizer 45 may, for example, be a small element protruding on one of the electrical connectors and recessed on the other connector.

Such a polarizer 45 thus allows, during manufacture, to avoid the reverse voltage connection of the energy storage module on the final test bench. It also allows, in case of series installation, to avoid the connection of two electrical connectors of the same polarities, and vice versa in case of parallel assembly to avoid the connection of two electrical connectors of opposite polarities.

According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 9, usable especially when the electrical connectors 43, 44 are not directly mechanically connectable with each other, additional assembly means 6, such as a floating nut for example , can be provided.

This floating nut 6 comprises two parts, namely a male portion 61 threaded at 610 on its outer surface and a female portion 62 threaded at 620 on its inner face. Each portion 61, 62 has in its rear end, a central orifice 611, respectively 621, through which can pass the flexible cable 410, respectively 420.

The two male and female parts 61 and 62 can be screwed together with each other in the locked position (displacement in the direction of the arrows F), thus coming to press one against the other the two contact faces of the connectors 43, 44 with their rear end. The two male and female parts 61 and 62 can also be unscrewed from each other and then be slidably displaced along the cable 410, respectively 420 (directions of movement represented by the arrows G). In this case, it will be noted that the functions of mechanical clamping and current flow are dissociated. In the variant embodiment with a single flexible cable, one of the male or female parts of the floating nut is sliding around the cable while the other is fixed around the connector.

As can be seen in FIG. 5A, advantageously, the length of the flexible cables 410 and 420 is sufficient to allow electrical contact of the electrical connector 43 of the flexible cable 410 to be connected to the electrical connector 44 of the other flexible cable. 420 of the same module 1, so as to ensure the possibility of short-circuiting said module 1.

FIG. 5B illustrates the short-circuiting of the module 1, when this corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 4B. The length of the single flexible cable 410 is then adapted accordingly.

According to another variant embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the length of the flexible cables 410 and 420 may also be sufficient to allow two modules 1 to be assembled together, for example for series mounting as shown. In this case, it is observed that the female connector 44 of the first module 1a is electrically connected with the male connector 43 of the second module 1b.

Similarly and although not shown in the figures, the length of the flexible cable of the single cable module of FIG. 4B can be adapted to allow a series connection with the connector of another module.

These connection steps can be repeated on several successive modules, provided that the male and female plugs of each system are equipped with complementary fasteners.

Advantageously, the flexible cables 410, 420 and / or the connectors 43, 44 and / or the module 1 may be provided with hooking means (clips, clamp, etc.) for fixing cables or connectors on the one of the walls of the module, so as to prevent them from being subjected to vibrations, in particular when the modules equip vehicles.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages of the invention, it will be noted that, since the electrically conductive central cores 41 1 and 421 and the electrical connectors 43, 44 are provided for the type of mounting envisaged, this makes it possible to have a direct connection between the terminals. positive and negative correctly sized to pass the current between several successive modules. The connection of the various energy storage modules together is simplified and the number of connection operations is limited, which is a saving of time and cost on a production line.

Contrary to what has been mentioned in connection with the prior art and FIGS. 1 and 2, the solution according to the invention makes it possible not to add additional additional cables and minimizes the contact resistances and parasitic resistances that are synonymous with losses. electric. Indeed, at each connection, there is then only one contact resistance instead of two, since the flexible cable is directly in electrical contact with the inside of the module with the energy storage element which is contained therein.

Claims

1. An electrical energy storage module (1, 1 a, 1 b), comprising a housing (21) inside which is housed at least one electrical energy storage element (31), this housing (21 ) being closed off by a cover (22) provided with two output terminals (41, 42) of respectively positive and negative polarity, characterized in that at least one of the two output terminals (41, 42) comprises a cable flexible member (410, 420) having an electrically conductive central core (41 1, 421) surrounded by an electrically insulating sleeve (412, 422) and provided at its free end with an electrical connector (43, 44) , in that said flexible cable (410, 420) passes through the cover (22) so as to have an electric contact area (413, 423) on the inner face (222) of said cover, said electrical contact area (413, 423) being in electrical contact with said electrical energy storage element (31), and in that the other terminal outlet (42, 41) comprises an electrical connector (44, 43).

2. Module according to claim 1, characterized in that the two output terminals (41, 42) comprise a flexible cable (410, 420) which has an electrically conductive central core (41 1, 421), surrounded by a sleeve electrically insulating element (412, 422), which is provided at its free end with an electrical connector (43, 44) and in that the two flexible cables (410, 420) pass through the cover (22) so as to have a electrical contact area (413, 423) on the inner face (222) of said cover, said electrical contact area (413, 423) being in electrical contact with said electrical energy storage element (31).

3. Module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible cable (410, 420) of one of the two output terminals (41, 42) or each flexible cable (410, 420) of the two output terminals (41, 42) is of sufficient length to allow electrical contact of its electrical connector (43, 44) with the electrical connector (44, 43) of the other output terminal (42, 41) of the same module (1).

4. Module (1 a) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible cable (410, 420) of one of the two output terminals (41, 42) or each flexible cable (410, 420) of two output terminals (41, 42) are of sufficient length to allow the electrical contact of its electrical connector (43,44) with an electrical connector (44,43) of an output terminal (42,41) of another module (1b).

5. Module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of its two electrical connectors (43, 44) is a male connector while the other is a female connector, the two connectors (43, 44). being configured to pair with each other.

6. Module according to claim 5, characterized in that the male connector (43) comprises a plug (430) threaded on its outer surface and in that the female connector (44) comprises a cavity (440) internally threaded adapted to receive said threaded plug (430).

7. Module according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two electrical connectors (43, 44) are identical.

8. Module according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the connectors (43, 44) are assembled and maintained in electrical contact with each other by means of additional connecting means (5). , such as a screw (51) and a nut (52).

9. Module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two output terminals (41, 42) are provided with additional assembly means (6) of the two electrical connectors (43, 44), such that a floating nut (61, 62).

10. Module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the two electrical connectors (43, 44) is provided with a polarizer (45).